Vacancy Announcement
ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY
Position: Project Officer II – Regional Business Development
Term of Employment: One Year with possibility of extension
Duty Station(s): Oromia
Required Number: One
Salary & Benefits: Competitive
Application Deadline: July 29, 2019
BACKGROUND:
The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) is a strategy and delivery oriented government agency created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATA envisions that, by 2025, smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, contributing to Ethiopia’s achievement of middle-income country status.
The agency focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MoALR), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.
Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects. Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sector partners across the country.
OUR CULTURE:
We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results.
At ATA, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:
The Business Development Officer functionally reporting to the Regional Senior Business Development Officer. The Regional Project Officer (PO) will work on all aspects of promoting the Agricultural One-Stop Shops opportunity, identification of potential AOSSs, and assessment of inputs demand and supply in selected potential areas, business management counseling, clear guidance on development and implementation of presentable accounting systems, business development initiatives at the AOSSs. In collaboration and with guidance from the Regional and HQ Senior Project Officer (SPO), the PO will provide guidance on Business Plans preparation by candidate AOSSs in the course of grant application processes. The PO will be a key player in providing all aspects of business management capabilities to candidate AOSSs through business profitability assessment and analysis. In collaboration with Regional and HQ SPO, s/he will provide periodic and need based business management skill enhancing trainings; grant utilization and reporting in compliance with donors’ policies to AOSS staff. The PO will seek, guide & recommend on alternative access to credit financing to the AOSS. As a multi-faceted position, the PO will review & monitor clients accounting reports, business performance progress & provide timely technical support wherever necessary.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Promote the AOSSs opportunity to potential private sector actors in potential areas
- Gather, compile and provide information for evaluation of OSSs grant applicants, including performance of documentary and in-person due diligence of the applicant’s historical financial records;
- Support potential applicants for the sub-grant to produce competitive business plan
- Assist AOSSs grantees to access credit and commercial finance, to help meet their matching investment requirements and project implementation costs;
- Provide capacity building on financial management and business planning to AOSSs staff and program beneficiaries over the life of the project;
- Facilitate training of AOSSs staff in business management skills and technical training’s in collaboration with technical experts
- Provide all rounded technical support in relation to business management to AOSSs as well as coaching and mentoring services to AOSSs in the respective regions
- Ensure that AOSSs keep recording of traction, keeping records of sales and also stock management and periodically check profitability of AOSSs by doing cost benefit analysis
- Ensure that AOSSs have properly used the sub-grant as per the agreement entered with ATA
- Produce timely and quality periodic reports;
- Other duties assigned to him/her by the Project Team leader.
Job Requirements
- Minimum Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Management, Business Administration, International Development, Agriculture Development, Social Sciences, or other area relevant to Agricultural Development.
- Minimum 6 years’ experience for BA/4 years for MA in either one or more.
- Experience with credit facilitation activities for donor-funded programs a plus;
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office including advanced proficiency in Excel;
- Proficiency in Peachtree Accounting system required;
- Strong interpersonal, communications, and leadership skills;
- Fluency in English and local languages required; knowledge of other regional working languages is a plus.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work with people having different background.
How to Apply
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) CV (maximum 3 pages) to [email protected]
Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.
Women are highly encouraged to apply.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
More Information
- Job City Oromia